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(b) There is still a transitional period of 11
years. The prevailing situation in Hong
(c)
Kong has also to be taken into consideration
even though it is in the final years of the transitional period. We cannot fix everything by means of the Basic Law. You have expressed
very good views and ideas and we shall adopt
them as far as possible. We have to decide
what we can do now and what have to be left
to the future SAR Government. At present,
the Central Government should not act for the
SAR Government. Otherwise, some people would say that we are intervening in breach of the
Joint Declaration. It is no good for us to intervene in these 12 years. But, if something goes wrong in the future, it would be difficult to identify who is to bear the responsibility. It is clearly stated in the Joint Declaration that Hong Kong will continue to be administered by the British in these 12 years. We are deter- mined to comply with the Joint Declaration. You
have to go on to put forward your views, parti- cularly to the working groups that are going to visit Hong Kong.
It is very difficult to give firm replies to these problems. Regarding the future ones,
we are not so clear; as for the present ones, we can help only by putting forward our views. ¡As regards the linkage problem, i.e. compatibility
of political reforms with the Basic Law,
it can be resolved only through consultations between China and Britain. As we have already reached an agreement on the future of Hong Kong, I don't think we have difficulty in settling this problem. We have to take the interents of
the whole into consideration as it is both
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an